Eagles-Giants postgame thoughts

Like I tweeted earlier, this was the loudest Eagles locker room I've ever been in and the second most joyous locker room I've ever encountered (behind the champagne-soaked Phillies' 2008 World Series celebration).

Total state of euphoria here at the New Meadowlands Stadium.

Here's what some of the players had to say:

C Mike McGlynn: "That's got to be the best comeback in NFL history when you think about it. We were going against the No. 1 defense in the NFL, and to come back from 31-10, that's the best comeback in Eagles history, I can tell you that."

LB Jamar Chaney: "I've never been a part of something that crazy. It was unbelievable."

CB Asante Samuel: "[DeSean Jackson] is one of the most incredible athletes I've ever seen in my life. He doesn't have the size, but the speed, the quickness, the agility, the hand-eye coordination -- one of the most incredible athletes I've ever seen. Hell of a player, a lot of heart."

What follows are the postgame notes, word-for-word, distributed by the Eagles' media relations dept.:

Comeback Kids: Despite trailing 24-3 at halftime and 31-10 in the fourth quarter, the Eagles mounted an epic comeback, capped by 65-yard punt return touchdown by WR DeSean Jackson as time expired. It was the Eagles fourth come-from-behind win in their last five games (including two against the Giants). They have outscored opponents 79-21 in the fourth quarter during that span. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the ninth time in NFL history that a team trailed by 21 points in the fourth quarter and won the game, and the first ever by the Eagles. The last time it happened was on 11/26/06, when the Titans beat the Giants 24-21 after trailing 21-0 in the fourth quarter … ESB also believes it is the only game-winning punt return as time expired in NFL history … The Eagles 28 fourth-quarter points were the most in team history.

Reid’s Records: Head Coach Andy Reid won his 128th career game (including playoffs), passing Mike Ditka for 24th place in NFL history … Reid improved his December record to 35-15 (.700), including wins in 13 of their last 14 games … The Eagles won their tenth game of the year, and finished with a 6-2 road record. It marked Reid’s fifth season with at least six road victories (first since 2004) and his eighth 10-win season … Philadelphia has won its last six games against the Giants (including playoffs), tying their second-longest winning streak against New York, behind their 12-game streak from 1975 to 1981 … Reid is 24-12 against NFC East teams in their second meeting of the year (7-5 against NYG) … Reid’s Eagles are 53-2 when scoring 30-plus points (6-0 in 2010).

Triple Threat: Jackson’s punt return touchdown was the fourth of his career. He has now scored a rushing, receiving, and punt return touchdown in each of his first three seasons, becoming just the second player in NFL history to do so (Washington’s Dick Todd - 1939-41) … With 1,112 career punt return yards, Jackson surpassed Larry Marshall (1,086) for third place in team history.

10 Grand: Jackson also became the fourth Eagle ever to have back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns and the first since Irving Fryar in 1996-97. Mike Quick (1983-85) and Tommy McDonald (1961-62) also did so. Quick is the only Eagle to do so three straight times. Jackson’s 169 receptions are the second-most ever by an Eagle in his first three seasons, trailing only Keith Jackson’s 194 from 1988-90.

Akers is Streaking: K David Akers became the first player in NFL history to score 130 points or more in four different seasons … He also became the third player in NFL history with four 30-plus field goal seasons after securing his third in a row. Chip Lohmiller (1990-92) is the only other player ever to have three-straight 30-plus field goal seasons … Akers has connected on 24 of his last 25 field goal attempts and 12 in a row.

25 Grand: RB LeSean McCoy became the sixteenth 1,000-yard rusher in team history, the fifth under Andy Reid, and the first since Brian Westbrook in 2007 … With 1,587 scrimmage yards on the season, McCoy surpassed Duce Staley (1,570 in 2002) for the seventh-best single-season total in team history.

Offensive Quick Hits: WR Jeremy Maclin caught his team-leading ninth and tenth touchdown receptions of the season, the most by an Eagle since Terrell Owens’ 14 in 2004 … TE Brent Celek caught a career-long 65-yard touchdown. Celek has four touchdowns in the last five games against the Giants … For the eighth time in team history and the first time since 2007, the Eagles boast a 1,000-yard rusher and receiver … The Eagles have scored 412 points this season, the fourth-best in team history … Their 5,655 total net yards this season rank as the fifth-best total in team history.

MV7: QB Michael Vick rushed for 130 yards, the fourth-highest single-game total of his career, and the most ever by an Eagles quarterback. It was his 11th career 100-yard game. He also scored his eighth rushing touchdown of the season, tying a career high. His 613 rushing yards this season are the fifth-highest single-season total ever by an Eagles quarterback … Vick also had three passing touchdowns and tied a career high with 20 on the season.

Defensive Nuggets: LB Moise Fokou tallied his first-career sack, and became the 12th Eagle to bring down the opposing quarterback this season … S Quintin Mikell recorded his third interception of the season, tying a career high. It is his first time ever with an interception in back-to-back games … In his first NFL start, LB Jamar Chaney jarred the ball loose from Mario Manningham for his first-career forced fumble, which was recovered by DT Mike Patterson, leading to an Eagles touchdown … Over the last two years, the Eagles have forced 70 takeaways, which is the highest two-year total by an Eagles team since forcing 71 from 2001-02 … DT Trevor Laws notched his fourth sack of the season.

Birdseed: The Eagles have averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry in all 14 games this season, which is the longest streak in NFL history to start a season … P Sav Rocca has landed 97 career punts inside the 20-yard line, passing Sean Landeta (96) for the second-most in team history … WR Riley Cooper recovered an onside kick, the first by the Eagles since 11/25/07 at NE.

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Current Comments

I liked the Eagles win, but I just thought of what the Giants should have done to run out the clock. On fourth down, hike the ball to the QB. Have the other 10 players surround him facing out in a complete circle. Waste the last seconds until time runs out.

Posted By: Larry | Dec 19, 2010 10:42:17 PM

Uh, Larry? You're going to "waste" 14 seconds with the game tied, the ball on the Giants 30 yard line and David Akers on the other side? Not exactly a football genius are you?

Posted By: lehighdoc | Dec 20, 2010 10:36:54 AM

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